The World’s Biggest Whiskey Bottle (& 10 Large-Format Bottles)

Do you know how long it would take you to finish the Intrepid - the biggest bottle of whiskey ever sold?

If you had a drink every day - you’d do it in about 17 years! 

Let’s discover all about the biggest bottle of whiskey in the world, explore the various whiskey bottle sizes, and cover the best large-format bottles of whiskey.

We’ll also show you why investing in whiskey casks (through Vinovest) could be a lucrative opportunity right now.

What Is The Biggest Bottle Of Whisky In The World?

The Intrepid is the worlds largest bottle of whisky distilled in 1989 and aged 32 years in the oak casks at the Macallan distillery in Speyside - an icon of Scotch whisky history. 

This custom-made liquor bottle towers at over 1.8 meters tall and contains 311 liters of whisky. 

It contains 1989 Macallan single malt scotch (43% abv). The Macallan distillery is one of Scotland’s oldest and most renowned distilleries. 

The whisky in the record breaking bottle comes from two sister casks. 

As the worlds largest bottle of whisky - the 82-gallon behemoth took over an hour to fill. It comes with a custom-made cork and a stand.

It was certified by the Guinness book of world records as the largest bottle of whisky in September 2021 and was sold on 25 May 2022.

Fun fact: 311 liters of whisky amounts to about 444 standard bottles or 5287 whiskey sours (each with two ounces of whisky) - almost enough whisky to last a lifetime!

What  Does the Intrepid Name Mean?

“Intrepid” is a Latin term that means “fearless.” 

The record breaking bottle was named in honor of 11 legendary explorers, including: 

• Sir Ranulph Fiennes
• Sir Robin Knox Johnston
• Karen Darke MBE
• Olly Hicks (the first person to row solo from Tasmania to New Zealand)

The bottle’s artwork features all 11 explorers  - promoting their upcoming expeditions and highlighting their charities. 

Who Headed The Project?

The project was a collaboration between Rosewin Holdings and Fah Mai, a Thai investment company. 

Daniel Monk, the founder of Rosewin Holdings and co-owner of Fah Mai, personally oversaw the execution of the project. He was inspired by his father, Captain Stanley Monk, who was also an adventurer, explorer and philanthropist. 

How Much Did The Bottle Sell For?

The largest bottle of whisky in the world was put on sale at the auction house Lyon and Turnbull.

In April 2022, they announced 25% of the sale proceeds would be donated to the Marie Curie foundation if the bid exceeds $1.6 million.

However, the auction house Lyon and Turnbull ended up selling the worlds largest bottle of whisky for about $1.4 million on 25 May 2022 to an anonymous buyer. 

This turned out to be a great deal for the buyer since The Intrepid is an expensive bottle valued at $1.8 million. 

Note: The valuation was based on 2022 market prices for 30-year-old whiskey produced at the Macallan distillery in Speyside.  

Was it the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold?

Interestingly, no. 

A 1926 bottle of Macallan 60-Year-Old sold for $1.53 million at Christie’s in 2018. The record breaking bottle is the world’s most expensive bottle of whiskey.

Now that we know all about the biggest bottle of whiskey, let’s look at other popular whiskey bottle sizes.

What Are the Different Whiskey Bottle Sizes?

Here are the most common whiskey bottle sizes you can find: 

• Miniature (50 ml): Whiskey bottle miniatures are very common - you can find them on most commercial flights and in hotel minibars. The original US miniatures came in bottles of 44ml, but the volume was changed to 50ml after metrification.
• Half-pint (200 ml): Ahalf-pint bottle contains about four whiskey pours. In Ireland, these bottles are known as naggins. 
• Demi/Shoulder (350 ml): A Demi bottle is considered half the size of an EU standard liquor bottle. They are known as double naggins in Ireland. 
• Tenth (378 ml) (outdated): This outdated bottle size was known as a commercial pint and was later replaced by the 375 ml liquor bottle. 
• Half liter (500 ml): The 500ml measurement is considered one pint in European countries where the metric system is used. However, this volume can slightly differ from the US pint and the imperial pint used in the UK. 
• European spirit bottle (700 ml): A standard bottle of whiskey in Europe is 700ml - but it isn’t common in the United States. 
• Fifth (750 ml): This is the most common bottle size in the United States. 
• Litre (1 L): This big bottle of whiskey is also commonly known as a “quart”. You can easily buy 1 L bottles from any duty-free store at an airport.
• Half gallon (1.75 L): This large bottle size is known as a “Handle” in Europe since most 1.75 L bottles have handles on their side. These bottles contain almost 60 fluid ounces of spirit, so in Canada, they’re known as “60-pounders.”
• Texas mickey (3 L): This is one of the largest standard whiskey bottle sizes available for sale. These massive bottles are usually shipped with pumps to dispense the whiskey. 

Now, let’s look at some big bottles of whiskey you can buy. 

10 Big Bottles Of Whiskey to Buy Right Now

Here are 10 large-format bottles of whiskey that make a great addition to any celebration:

• Johnnie Walker Blue Label 1.75L 
• The Macallan Double Cask 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 1.75L
• Jack Daniel Tennessee Whiskey 3L
• Chivas Regal 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch  4.5L
• The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky 4.5L
• Jim Beam White Label Bourbon Whiskey 4.5L
• Willett's Pot Still Reserve Bourbon 1.75L
• W.L. Weller Special Reserve 1.75L
• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1.75L
• Eagle Rare 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1.75L

1. Johnnie Walker Blue Label 1.75L ($899)

Johnnie Walker is one of the pillars in Scotch whisky history.  

The Blue Label is one of the most famous Scotch whiskeys in the world - and it’s the flagship of the House of Walker. 

It has a hazelnut, caramel and vanilla nose. On the palate are notes of honey, pepper and dried fruit with a lingering smooth finish.

2. The Macallan DoubleCask 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 1.75L ($229)

This Macallan double cask Scotch whisky was matured in American and European Sherry oak casks for 12 years. 

This whisky exudes hazelnut, almond and leather aromas, while the palate has vanilla, ginger and dark chocolate notes.

3. Jack Daniel Tennessee Whiskey 3L ($385)

This massive bottle of Jack Daniel whiskey has full-bodied fruit and earth aromas. 

On the palate, it opens with hints of green pepper and banana nut bread. It serves great over ice - and you can even mix it with ginger ale or Coca-Cola.

4. Chivas Regal 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch 4.5L ($475)

This 4.5 L Chivas Regal is a Scotch whisky with wild herb and honey aromas.

This whisky bottle showcases a butterscotch and hazelnut palate with a touch of apples. The finish is long and refined. 

5. The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky 4.5L ($214)

The Famous Grouse is a Scotch whisky brand founded over 100 years ago - making it a big part of Scotch whisky history.

On the nose, this whisky bottle has a light cereal aroma. The palate includes subtle grain and malty notes with a long, peaty finish. 

6. Jim Beam White Label Bourbon Whiskey 4.5L ($218)

This large Jim Beam bourbon comes with a cradle to easily pour the whiskey.

Aged in oak casks, this big bottle of whiskey gives off vanilla, caramel and spice aromas. The palate has oak, charcoal and sweet fruit notes. 

7. Willett's Pot Still Reserve Bourbon 1.75L ($200)

Introduced in 2008, Willett’s Pot Stil Reserve is a hand-selected, single-barrel Kentucky straight bourbon. 

This American whiskey comes in a beautiful decanter. It has a delicate vanilla and lemon nose with underlying hints of caramel and spice flavors. The finish is smooth and sweet. 

8. W.L. Weller Special Reserve 1.75L ($343)

This W.L. Weller reserve gives out caramel and watermelon aromas, while the palate presents hints of crème brulée, honey, and butterscotch. 

The finish is smooth, sweet, and short-lived. 

9. Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1.75L ($300)

This whiskey comes from the Buffalo Trace distillery that’s produced bourbon for over 200 years. 

On the nose, the American whiskey includes molasses, vanilla and mint notes. The palate reveals flavors of caramel, apricots and marmalade. The finish is long, deep and smooth with notes of peach pie. 

10. Eagle Rare 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1.75L ($330) 

Eagle Rare whiskey, also a product of the Buffalo Trace Distillery, is an award-winning bourbon. 

This American whiskey is aged in oak casks and presents an orange peel, toasted oak and maple nose. The palate has hints of walnuts, red fruit and honey. The finish is long and dry with vanilla notes.

Now let’s look at why investing in whiskey is something you should consider. 

Is Whiskey A Good Investment? 

Here’s what makes whiskey a lucrative alternative investment:

1. Historically Strong Performance

Investors usually look at alternative investments like whiskey to diversify their portfolios. 

Whiskey has also shown impressive returns on investment historically.

Here’s the performance of several indices from 2010 to 2020:

• Rare whiskey has grown 564% in value (according to the Knight Frank Luxury Index)
• The Apex 1000 index (tracking the performance of 1,000 rare bottles of whiskey) has grown over 416%. 
• The Rare Whisky Icon 100 (which follows 100 collector’s bottles and their performance) has increased by over 390%. 

2. Potential for Market Growth

Whiskey’s popularity has soared in recent years - as a beverage and an investment.

In 2021, the global whiskey market was valued at $79.6 billion - with predictions it will grow to about $109 billion in 2025. 

3. Low Correlation With Traditional Markets

Historically, whiskey and other alternative assets like fine wine have had a low correlation with traditional markets. 

In fact, when the S&P 500 was down by over 20% during the first half of 2022, whiskey appreciated by 8.46%. 

This means investing in whiskey is great for periods of economic uncertainty (like the one we’re currently experiencing.) 

Purchasing a rare whiskey bottle can be an excellent investment down the line, but you might have trouble sourcing one. 

Why Investing in Whiskey Casks is a Great Idea

Investing in whiskey casks has a few advantages over investing in bottles.

The whiskey cask market hasn’t matured yet, so investing in new casks from popular brands can give you the potential for a high rate of return. 

Whiskey cask investing is also more affordable than investing in individual bottles. You can buy casks directly from distilleries for a much lower price per liter. You get complete control over the casks once you buy them.

Investing in whiskey casks is a brilliant way to spread investment risk. 

If you’re looking to invest in whiskey to recession-proof your portfolio, we’ve got some news! 

Vinovest - one of the most popular platforms for investing in red wine, white wine and other wine bottles, has rolled out is a full-stack platform for whiskey investments.

Through Vinovest, you’ll be able to buy casks of the best American, Scotch, and Irish whiskey. Vinovest will also take care of your barrels’ authentication, storage and insurance.

A Big Bottle of Whiskey is Great, Investment-Grade Whiskey Casks are Better!

While there’s only one Intrepid in the world, there are always tons of big whiskey bottles to buy at your local liquor store.

But if you’re looking for valuable whiskey to invest in, you might need to look beyond your local retailer. 

Vinovest is a brilliant choice if you’re looking to invest in valuable whiskey casks. Visit the website to know more.